Hundreds raise questions, protest at Mineola HS forum
Photo credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams, Jr. | Parents and teachers opposed to state standardized testing and Common Core demonstrate outside Mineola High School. (Nov. 13, 2013)
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Take a sample math testState Education Commissioner John B. King Jr. was greeted by a crowd of parents and demonstrators with signs that read "Down with King" and "It's freezing and we are here -- Just wait until Election Day" as he arrived Wednesday for an education forum at Mineola High School.
Inside, the auditorium, which holds about 700, was packed with educators and parents from as many as 15 Nassau County school districts. Tickets were needed for admittance, a requirement that provoked anger from some.
The forum was scheduled to end at 6 p.m., but the time was extended -- until about 7 p.m. -- to allow more questions.
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Wednesday's event was the second education forum on Long Island in as many days, part of a series of about a dozen meetings across the state meant to address hot-button issues such as student testing, the Common Core academic standards, teacher and principal evaluations, and security of data containing student information.
At Tuesday night's forum in East Setauket, King and Merryl Tisch, chancellor of the state Board of Regents, were confronted with an angry capacity crowd in the auditorium of Ward Melville High School, and the commissioner at times was shouted down while speaking or was booed.
In Garden City Park, scores of people began to assemble outside of Mineola High School 45 minutes before the forum's start.
Adam Greaves, 43, of North Bellmore said his message was meant for state legislators.
"We want change, and if the current members of the state Legislature don't want to make that change, we will elect new people," he said.
Greaves said he has a son in second grade and a daughter in fifth grade in the North Bellmore schools. He believes student testing is "ridiculous" and isn't convinced that the curriculum stemming from the Common Core standards is right for students.
"My kids are guinea pigs," he said.
Several of the demonstrators voiced discontent with being closed out of the forum and with limitations placed on approved speakers at Tuesday night's meeting.
"Despite the efforts to limit the speakers and limit the crowds, I think they are learning that we come here with one voice," said Carol Burris, principal of South Side High School in Rockville Centre.
Scores of protesters, standing across the street from the high
